Government introduces bill to criminalize disrespect to Vande Mataram; Left parties walk out

The Union Ministry of State for Home Affairs introduced the National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026 in the Rajya Sabha on Friday, seeking to make intentional disrespect to Vande Mataram a criminal offence. The bill would bring the national song under the same legal protections currently afforded to the national anthem under the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971.

Union Minister of State Nityanand Rai, moving the bill on behalf of Home Minister Amit Shah, told the House that Vande Mataram has received constitutional honour since January 24, 1950. "The Constituent Assembly accorded equal status to the National Song and the National Anthem. This amendment seeks to strengthen legal safeguards," Rai said.

Left parties opposed the introduction. CPI(M) leader John Brittas submitted a notice arguing that India's framers "consciously refrained from placing the National Song and the National Anthem on the same constitutional footing" and that the proposed legislation "attempts to alter that carefully evolved constitutional understanding through ordinary legislation." Brittas also argued: "They cannot manufacture patriotism and nationalism through a piece of legislation."

CPI MP P Sandosh Kumar said he respected Vande Mataram but opposed the bill, alleging it sought to create division between authors Rabindranath Tagore and Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay. Kumar claimed the legislation was being brought to divert attention from ongoing student agitations.

Opposition sloganeering erupted as the Chairman moved to begin parliamentary discussion of the bill. The Rajya Sabha was adjourned for the day, preventing discussion from proceeding. The adjournment occurred as the House dealt with broader disruptions, including protests over alleged NEET paper leaks.